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““The Christian Revolution”The Christian Revolution”

Philip Jenkins, Ch. 46, pp. 379-Philip Jenkins, Ch. 46, pp. 379-386386

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The Transformation of The Transformation of ChristianityChristianity

Christianity, long identified as religion of Christianity, long identified as religion of West or Global North, of white nations, of West or Global North, of white nations, of "the haves," is declining in North "the haves," is declining in North America/Europe, but expanding in the America/Europe, but expanding in the Global SouthGlobal South

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The New Face of ChristianityThe New Face of Christianity The typical contemporary Christian is in a Nigerian The typical contemporary Christian is in a Nigerian

village or Brazilian village or Brazilian favelafavela (shantytown or slum)(shantytown or slum) Many of fastest-growing countries in world are Many of fastest-growing countries in world are

predominantly Christian or have very sizeable Christian predominantly Christian or have very sizeable Christian minoritiesminorities

Traditionally Christian states in the West/North have Traditionally Christian states in the West/North have declining birthratesdeclining birthrates

Extrapolating statistics to the year 2025, there would be Extrapolating statistics to the year 2025, there would be about 2.6 billion Christians, of whom 633 mil would live in about 2.6 billion Christians, of whom 633 mil would live in Africa, 640 mil in Latin America, and 460 mil in AsiaAfrica, 640 mil in Latin America, and 460 mil in Asia

Europe, with 555 mil, would slip to third placeEurope, with 555 mil, would slip to third place Africa and Latin America will together account for half of the Africa and Latin America will together account for half of the

Christians in the worldChristians in the world

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AA New Christian Synthesis?New Christian Synthesis?

A new synthesis, uniting Christians in the Global A new synthesis, uniting Christians in the Global South with those in the West/North, is unlikely, South with those in the West/North, is unlikely, considering the critical differences between their considering the critical differences between their social basessocial bases Future members of Southern dominated church are Future members of Southern dominated church are

likely to be poorer, leading some Western Christians likely to be poorer, leading some Western Christians to expect a growth in liberation theologyto expect a growth in liberation theology liberation theologyliberation theology: : fervently liberal, activist & revolutionary fervently liberal, activist & revolutionary

vision of Christianity that looks to “liberate” the poor through vision of Christianity that looks to “liberate” the poor through political action, it grew enormously in Brazil in the 1960s political action, it grew enormously in Brazil in the 1960s

Southern Christians are far more conservativeSouthern Christians are far more conservative

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Christianity in Global South vs. Christianity in Global South vs. North (Europe & North America)North (Europe & North America)

Southern Christians are far more Conservative in terms of Southern Christians are far more Conservative in terms of belief belief andand moral teachingmoral teaching Roman Catholics, of a traditionalist kind, radical Protestant sects, Roman Catholics, of a traditionalist kind, radical Protestant sects,

evangelical or Pentecostalevangelical or Pentecostal Strong supernatural orientation…more interested in personal salvation Strong supernatural orientation…more interested in personal salvation

than radical politicsthan radical politics Adapting Christian belief to local traditions, groups have titles like Adapting Christian belief to local traditions, groups have titles like

""African indigenous churches"African indigenous churches" Newer churches preach deep personal faith and communal orthodoxy, Newer churches preach deep personal faith and communal orthodoxy,

mysticism and Puritanism, mysticism and Puritanism, all founded on clear scriptural authorityall founded on clear scriptural authority Preach visions that seem simplistically charismatic, visionary and Preach visions that seem simplistically charismatic, visionary and

apocalypticapocalyptic In this thought world, prophecy is an everyday realityIn this thought world, prophecy is an everyday reality

It has much in common with those of medieval or early modern It has much in common with those of medieval or early modern European timesEuropean times

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Researchers have missed these Researchers have missed these trends, too focused on political trends, too focused on political

movements like fascism & communismmovements like fascism & communism

Meanwhile, Pentecostalism is flourishing, and may be Meanwhile, Pentecostalism is flourishing, and may be considered the most successful social movement of the considered the most successful social movement of the past centurypast century PentecostalismPentecostalism and related charismatic movements represent and related charismatic movements represent

one of the fastest-growing segments of global Christianity. At one of the fastest-growing segments of global Christianity. At least a quarter of the world's 2 billion Christians are thought to least a quarter of the world's 2 billion Christians are thought to be members of these lively, highly personal faiths, which be members of these lively, highly personal faiths, which emphasize such spiritually renewing "gifts of the Holy Spirit" as emphasize such spiritually renewing "gifts of the Holy Spirit" as speaking in tongues, divine healing and prophesying. Even more speaking in tongues, divine healing and prophesying. Even more than other Christians, Pentecostals and other renewalists than other Christians, Pentecostals and other renewalists believe that God, acting through the Holy Spirit, continues to believe that God, acting through the Holy Spirit, continues to play a direct, active role in everyday life.play a direct, active role in everyday life.

And there are even more Catholics than PentecostalsAnd there are even more Catholics than Pentecostals

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Medieval Parallels – A New Medieval Parallels – A New Christendom?Christendom?

Medieval Europe was considered an age of faith, Medieval Europe was considered an age of faith, passionate spirituality, based on unity that passionate spirituality, based on unity that transcended kingdoms or empirestranscended kingdoms or empires

Laws of nations lasted only as long as nations Laws of nations lasted only as long as nations themselves, while Christendom offered a higher themselves, while Christendom offered a higher set of standards, which alone could claim set of standards, which alone could claim universalityuniversality

Christianity was a primary form of cultural Christianity was a primary form of cultural referencereference

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Ultimately, Christianity collapsed in Ultimately, Christianity collapsed in the face of secular nationalismthe face of secular nationalism

A connection between religion and political A connection between religion and political order was no longer assumedorder was no longer assumed

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By 21st century, the nation-state, By 21st century, the nation-state, the whole Westphalian system, the whole Westphalian system,

came under challengecame under challenge Technology played a key roleTechnology played a key role In Europe, loyalty to nation is being replaced by In Europe, loyalty to nation is being replaced by

identification with larger entities (Europe) or identification with larger entities (Europe) or smaller (regions or ethnic groups)smaller (regions or ethnic groups)

Decline of states in face of globalization has Decline of states in face of globalization has parallels with the cosmopolitan world of the parallels with the cosmopolitan world of the Middle Ages, leading some to expect the Middle Ages, leading some to expect the emergence of some supranational movement or emergence of some supranational movement or ideology ideology

1010

Christianity in context -- different Christianity in context -- different meanings of Christianity in meanings of Christianity in

Global South vs. North Global South vs. North Globalization may not signal American imperialism but a Globalization may not signal American imperialism but a

new Christendom, based in the global Southnew Christendom, based in the global South Although Latin America and Africa are separated geographically and Although Latin America and Africa are separated geographically and

differ in terms of institutional structures, both confront similar colonial differ in terms of institutional structures, both confront similar colonial legacies, fundamentally separating the experiences of Northern and legacies, fundamentally separating the experiences of Northern and Southern churchesSouthern churches

Christians in the South read the Bible in a way that Christians in the South read the Bible in a way that makes Christianity look like a wholly different religion makes Christianity look like a wholly different religion from the faith of prosperous advanced countries of from the faith of prosperous advanced countries of Europe and North AmericaEurope and North America Responding to wholly different Responding to wholly different social conditionssocial conditions, Christians in the global , Christians in the global

South are comfortable with biblical notions of the supernatural and South are comfortable with biblical notions of the supernatural and prophecy – and with martyrdom, oppression and exileprophecy – and with martyrdom, oppression and exile

The meaning of the text is shaped by social contextThe meaning of the text is shaped by social context